Hey there! Ever tried to push through a long day at work while feeling like someone is taking a melon baller to your insides? Many women can relate, which is why we might look like we’re ready to unleash fury if you casually joke about “that time of the month.”
For numerous women, “that time of the month” is genuinely agonizing. It’s high time we stop treating it as a punchline. When someone without a uterus brushes off the intense pain you’re experiencing, it’s one thing; when it’s your doctor? That’s just unacceptable.
Research indicates that one in five women experience debilitating menstrual pain each month, and medical professionals may not be adequately addressing it. In her article “Let’s Talk About Period Pain,” writer Mia Thompson explores why women face limited options for managing menstrual discomfort. Her own struggles with excruciating cramps pushed her to dig deeper for answers.
Thompson spoke with Dr. Samuel Reed, a reproductive health expert at a leading university, who stated that menstrual cramps can feel as severe as a heart attack. If that’s the case, then why aren’t we investing more effort into finding effective treatments? After battling her own back issues, Thompson found that the pain she endured monthly could rival that of her previous injuries.
“Before I had my MRI, I mentioned to my doctor that the pain seemed linked to my period. He dismissed it,” she recounts. “Later, the specialist suggested it was just nerve inflammation and waved my concerns away.” Her gynecologist, after an ultrasound showed nothing alarming, simply recommended birth control to make her periods stop. When she questioned the risks, she was told, “Well, one in eight women get breast cancer anyway, so don’t stress about it.” Um, what?
Through her research, Thompson learned about two main culprits of period pain: primary dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. The former is simply known as painful periods with no clear medical cause, affecting women from the onset of menstruation. However, the line between the two is often blurred, as many women suffering from dysmenorrhea may actually have undiagnosed endometriosis. It’s estimated that 20% of women experience the former, while around 10% of ovulating women in the US contend with endometriosis, often taking up to a decade for an accurate diagnosis.
So, one in five women has painful periods without explanation, and one in ten has endometriosis. Yet the go-to treatment for the former is typically just “take some ibuprofen.” For endometriosis, surgery may be required to alleviate pain by removing tissue, and in some cases, a hysterectomy is the only solution that brings relief.
Why do some women suffer more than others? “That’s a million-dollar question,” Dr. Reed noted. “Without a strong advocacy pushing for research, this issue remains neglected.” He pointed out that discussions surrounding period pain often remain taboo. For instance, many media outlets hesitate to use terms like “vagina” or “menstrual bleeding,” which makes it almost impossible to have open conversations about painful periods.
There’s absolutely nothing shameful about saying “vagina” or “menstrual bleeding.” The pain women endure isn’t a laughing matter, and it shouldn’t be dismissed by men in casual conversations at work.
“It’s a topic that hasn’t received the attention it deserves in medicine,” Dr. Reed emphasized.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could change that?
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out this blog post and for more insights, visit the experts at Make a Mom and CCRM IVF, who offer great resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
Many women endure significant pain during their menstrual cycles, comparable to a heart attack, yet it continues to be minimized by society. With one in five women experiencing debilitating cramps and another one in ten suffering from endometriosis, it’s crucial to have open discussions about the issue and to push for more research and effective treatments.